Playbook

As The American League Championship Series came to an end, so did Joe Girardi’s job as the New York Yankees manager. Girardi was the manager for the Yankees for 10 years and during that time the Yankees won one World Series and made the playoffs six times. Unfortunately for Girardi, those numbers weren’t enough for him to keep his job. Instead of having the decision of whether or not he would like to renew his contract, the Yankees made that decision for him. Girardi put a lot of blood, sweat and tears to do the best job he could on managing the team. Girardi states,” With a heavy heart, I come to you because the Yankees have decided not to bring me back”. Through this statement one can only sympathize and feel the pain that Girardi is currently feeling.

On Wednesday, April 19, 2017 ex- Patriots football star Aaron Hernandez committed suicide. Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early Jr., Massachusetts State Police Superintendent Col. Richard McKeon, and Secretary of Public Safety Daniel Bennett released a joint statement to the press stating Aaron Hernandez “died early Wednesday morning after he hanged himself by a bedsheet in his prison cell, the Massachusetts Department of Correction said. The former tight end for the New England Patriots had been serving a life sentence without parole after being convicted in the June 2013 murder of Odin Lloyd”. He was lock in his cell at 8 pm on Tuesday night and on 3:30 am Wednesday morning a corrections officer went to check on him and they found him hanging from his jail cell. Also, Aaron had carved John 3:16 on his forehead. The corrections facility rushed him to the hospital and he was pronounced dead an hour later after he arrived. At the scene, there showed no signs of a struggle. Hernandez left a note to his prison lover. He left another note to his fiancé Shayanna Jenkins Hernandez and his four year old daughter. The notes were left next to a bible opened at John 3:16. Aaron’s family donated Aaron’s brain to Boston University’s Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy.

Manchester United Soccer Star Zlatan Ibrahimovic is banned from playing in three matches due to his violent misconduct in this past Saturday’s match. He was charged today March 7, 2017 for his violent misconduct by the Football Association. Ibrahimovic fought last Saturday a couple of times with Tyrone Mings. Tyrone Mings who plays for Bournemouth is also charged with violent misconduct. This altercation started when Ibrahimovic threw Mings on the ground, Mings retaliated by stomping on Ibrahimovic head and then Ibrahimovic elbowed Mings in the face. With Manchester United losing Zlatan Ibrahimovic this has affected them tremendously.

On Sunday, February 5, 2017 New England Patriots won Super Bowl 51 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, 34-28. In the first half the Atlanta Falcons had a 18 point lead over the Patriots. The Patriots gained a huge comeback and were able to tie the game 28 to 28. To break tie, Tom Brady and his team operating fast and efficiently scored the final touchdown of the game sealing the New England Patriots win over the Atlanta Falcons. The Patriots have won their 5th Super Bowl win. On Tuesday, February 7, 2017 there will be a parade celebrating the Patriots Victory in Boston, Massachusetts.

Picture on the left: Yordano Ventura, Picture on the right: Andy Marte

Yordano Ventura a Kansas City Pitcher died at the age of the 25 on January 21, 2017. Yordano Ventura helped the Royals advanced to the 2015 World Series. He died in the Dominican Republic due to a car accident. The accident occurred while he was trying to drive up a foggy mountain road. He died in a town called San Jose de Ocoa in the Dominican Republic. Another former Dominican baseball player, Andy Marte died on January 22, 2017, in a separate car accident in the Dominican Republic. Andy Marte was 33 when he died. He formerly played for the Atlanta Braves and the Cleveland Indians. The baseball community is mourning the death of these two amazing Dominican baseball players.

Yesterday, it was announced by school officials that starting left guard Anthony Herbert passed away in his dorm. ESPN reported that Herbert went for a morning workout, had breakfast, and then returned to his room. No word yet on the details of his passing. EMT’s were called into Herbert’s dorm but were unsuccessful in attempting to resuscitate him. “Anthony’s passing is felt deeply by many. He made a positive impact on our campus and was everything we hope for in a student-athlete. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and teammates, and we are focused on supporting them during this difficult time,” stated Forrest Karr, NMU’s athletic director. MYC Tastemakers offers our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and teammates.

NFL player and Virginia Tech, Keion Carpenter passed away Thursday morning at age 39 in Jackson South Community Hospital. Carpenter was injured in a fall that had occurred while he was on vacation with his family. He was running to the car with his son when Keion accidentally slipped and fell hitting his head and causing him to be in a coma. It was one of those accidents that happened so quick no one knew what happened. Jamilia Smith who is a cousin of Carpenter’s said” It was one of those freak accidents. He was always healthy, he went to the doctor, ate well and always worked out.” He was in a coma for 24 hours before his passing.

Keion Carpenter played safety as a Hokie. He intercepted 14 passes during NFL career with the Buffalo Bills and Atlanta Falcons. Carpenter’s coach at Virginia Tech, Frank Beamer, said in a statement that Carpenter “was one of the rocks around which we built our program.” Carpenter was also the founder of The Carpenter House in 2005 which was designed to benefit children from low income homes and be able to mentor them. He was known to be a very giving individual who always wanted to help others. He had a heart of gold. Prayers and condolences to Carpenters family, team and friends. Rest in Peace.

Being in the NFL, comes with many rules and regulations that need to be followed. Unfortunately Dallas Cowboys defensive end Randy Gregory was suspended due to violation of the NFL’s substance abuse policy. He was placed on the reserve/exempt list until further notice. As of Monday December 19, 2016 Gregory was activated to the active roster after missing 14 games of the season. He returned to practice on Thursday determined to get back out on that field. Due to Gregory being put back on the active list, the Cowboys had to release someone and they did just that. They released Zach Moore and placed him on the 53 man roster last week.

Since Gregory is back on the active roster, its being said that he is going to have significant playing time in the game tonight against the Detroit Lions. Tonight is a big deal due to Gregory not playing since last year’s season finale. Last year he suffered from a high ankle sprain which caused him to not be able to play for most of the season. He attended an out of state rehab facility before returning to the team in September. Coach Marinelli said, “he looks good. I mean, he so explosive off the ball. That’s all the same. He’s thicker and gained weight. He looks really good now.” Not only is he excited t get back out on the field, his coaches are excited as well. Good Luck tonight Gregory.

On December 12, the Scottsdale Police Department arrested Michael Floyd after he was found asleep in the driver’s seat while stopped at a traffic light. He was arrested and charged with obstructing a roadway, DUI impaired to the slightest degree, DUI blood alcohol content above .08, and failure to obey a police officer. A BAC of 0.15 percent or higher is considered to be an extreme DUI in Arizona within two hours of operating a vehicle. Bill Belichick, Patriot’s coach, said the team has notified of the incident but also noted that Floyd is still on schedule to practice with the team,

“Yeah, we were aware of his situation when we claimed him….He’s in an ongoing legal situation; I”m not going to comment on. We have a lot of things on our team to handle a multitude of things that players, coaches, anybody in our organization, really, that come up…. There are a lot of things outside of football that we all deal with. It’s a long, long list and we provide a lot of resources for everybody on that.”

The Scottsdale Police Department also released the video which shows Floyd passed out behind the wheel.

It’s crazy how fast a life could be taken from us with in a blink of an eye. Konrad Reuland, a former Jets and Ravens tight end, suffered from a brain aneurysm at the age of 29 on November 28, 2016. He underwent surgery shortly after declaring him brain dead. He was extremely uncomfortable and fighting for his life for two weeks after this tragic outburst resulting in his death December 12, 2016. Konrad was a student and athlete at the University of Notre Dame and later transferred to Stanford University to continue on with his career as an athlete. While attending college, Konrad was unfortunately not drafted, but after graduating he signed with the San Francisco 49ers in 2011. In 2013 he was signed with the Jets but on a reserve list due to a knee injury that occurred. November 14, 2014 to November 18, 2015 Konrad was signed on and off of the Ravens practice team consistently. Then December 8, 2015 he was promoted to the active roster which his career took off since. Konrad wasn’t just a football player, he became a brother to many and a son to his coaches.

Konrad made in impact on many. As you can see, Konrad was able to be a part of multiple teams gaining family from each and every one. This sudden death has affected many people, his team mates, family and coach John Harbaugh. His name and number 88 will be remembered forever. Please take a moment and pray sending our condolences to the Reuland family. Rest in Peace Reuland, you will forever be remembered and missed.